Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of corosolic acid ( CRA) on the proliferationand apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells SKOV-3 and its mechanism. Methods Cells were divided into 4 groups: Ctrl group, CRA-10 μmol / L group, CRA-20 μmol / L group, and CRA-50 μmol / L groups, each group was treated with corresponding concentration of CRA. CCK-8 assay was used to measure cell growth. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. The protein expression levels of Ki67, Cyclin D1, CDK6, Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, PI3K, AKT, p-AKT were determined by Western blotting. In addition, the cell line derived xenograft model was established by transplanting the human ovarian cancer cells SKOV-3 in nude mice, the volume of the tumors from the nude mice were measured, the rates of Ki67 or VEGF positive cellswere detected by immunohistochemistry. Results In cytological experiments, the cell growth levels, the Bcl-2 / Bax and p-AKT / AKT ratios, the protein expression levels of Ki67, Cyclin D1, CDK6, PI3K in the CRA groups (10, 20, 50 μmol / L) were decreased significantly, and the cell apoptosis rate, protein expression levels of cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-9 were increased notably, when compared with those in the Ctrl group. In animal experiments, the tumor volume, the rates of Ki67 or VEGF positive cells in the CRA groups (10, 20, 50 μmol / L) were decreased markedly, when compared with those in the Ctrl group. Conclusion Corosolic acid can inhibit the excess proliferation of SKOV3 cells, and induce their apoptosis, the mechanism may related to the inhibition of PI3K / AKT signaling pathway.

Key words: corosolic acid, ovarian cancer, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, PI3K / AKT